Helichrysum Plant Named &#39;Harvest Fire&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helichrysum  plant named ‘Harvest Fire’ that originated as a controlled cross. The new variety is distinguished from  Helicyrhsum bracteatum  (Vent.) and all other members of the genera known to the inventor by: the color of it flower and buds, in combination with the ability of its immature flowers to develop under indoor light conditions, the resistance of its stems to bending, the resistance of its leaves to scorching, a very compact growth habit, and the ability of its lower buds to develop when the upper flower is cut off without the plant becoming excessively large. The new variety further possesses the following commercially and aesthetically desirable characteristics of resistance to the rood disease Pythium, its puberlent leaves, its ability to grow well in pots, and the ease with which it can be forced to flower for sale in the autumn, and its long-lasting flowers.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Helichrysum breacteatum

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Harvest Fire’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Compositae family. The botanical name of the plant is Helichrysum breacteatum.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross. The controlled hybridization was conducted at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The inventor crossed Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,929) with Helichrysum bracteatum ‘Harvest Nectarine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,834). Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’ was the seed parent and Helichrysum bracteatum ‘Harvest Nectarine’ was the pollen parent.

The new variety is particularly suitable for commercial plant culture because of its long-lasting flowers and attractive colors. The characteristics of the new which in combination distinguish it from other Helichrysum bracteatum (Vent.) varieties are: the color of its flowers and buds, in combination with the ability of its immature flowers to develop under indoor light conditions, the resistance of its leaves to scorching, stems of flowers are resistant to rotting and so are more likely to remain upright as flower ages, a very compact growth habit and so it needs less growth regulators to keep the plant and the desired height for commercial sale, the ability of its lower buds to develop well when the terminal flowers are cut off, and even when the terminal flower is cut off and the lower flowers develop the plant can still be kept at a desirable height for commercial sale. The new variety further possesses the following commercially and aesthetically desirable characteristics of resistance to the rood disease Pythium, its puberlent leaves, its ability to grow well in pots, and the ease with which it can be forced to flower for sale in the autumn, and its long-lasting flowers. The flower color of the new variety changes as the involucral bracts age. The bud stage is darkest. The tips of the tightly imbricate involucral bracts are R.H.S. 53 A (red group). As the flower bud begins to open, we see upper side of larger bracts (16 mm long and 8 mm wide—4^(th) of 5^(th) whorl of bracts) tips still R.H.S. 53 A (red group), striated with R.H.S. 53 A (red group) in veins remainder is R.H.S. 7 B (yellow group). As the flower opens further we see upper sides of large, bur narrower bracts (17 mm long by 5 mm wide—8^(th) or 9^(th) whorl of bracts), which are no longer striated and have an overall color of R.H.S. 23 A (yellow-orange group). As the flower opens further we see upper sides of shorter, narrower and overall smaller bracts (14 mm to 4 mm long by 2 mm wide) innermost whorls which can be as bright as R.H.S. 17 A (yellow-orange group) or as dark as R.H.S. 25 A (orange group). The R.H.S. 25 A (orange group) color in the center of the bracts is the dominant color of the flower head. The tips of the outer involucral bracts on the underside of the mature flower retain the color the bracts possessed when the flower head began opening.

The following table compares the new variety to varieties known by the inventor to be close to the present invention, according to the new variety's distinguishing characteristics:

TABLE OF COMPARISON ‘Plum’ ‘Raspberry’ ‘Nectarine’ New Variety Upper sides Bract tips: R.H.S. 58 D Bract tips: R.H.S. 21 A mature R.H.S. 66 D R.H.S. 59 A (yellow- involucral Bract base: Bract base: orange group) bracts R.H.S. 155 R.H.S. 155 D C (Tip color dominates in all but innermost bracts) Bud color Bract tips: R.H.S. 187 D R.H.S. 59 A R.H.S. 52 A R.H.S. 187 (greyed- (red group) A purple group) Bract Base: R.H.S. 67 B Disease Resistant to Resistant to Resistant to Resistant to resistance Pythium Pythium Pythium Pythium Hirsute Puberlent Puberlent Hirsute Puberlent leaves Suitability for Good Good Good Good pot culture Ease of Good Good Good Very Good forcing Growth habit Compact Compact Compact Very compact Flower habit Long lasting Long lasting Long lasting Long lasting

The new cultivar ‘Harvest Fire’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor over a three successive generations with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable. Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initially selected plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant of the new variety showing its compact growth habit.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a flower head of the new variety with all of the involucral bracts reflexed.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a bud that is beginning to open of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of a flower head of the new variety with all of its involucral bracts reflexed and all of its disc florets opened.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a flower head of the new variety with all of the involucral bracts reflexed.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the base of the new variety.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of two flower heads of the new variety in different stages of development.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the new variety.

FIG. 9 is a view of the bases of multiple flower heads of the new variety.

FIG. 10 is a close-up view of two buds of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants shown in the photographs are ready for commercial sale. The plant started out as cuttings, taken from the stem of a grown plant.

The new variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants with growth regulators applied. The plants were grown in 15.2 cm pots in Half Moon Bay, Calif., during the summer and autumn months. The average temperature during the day was 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature during the night was 51 degrees Fahrenheit. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

-   The plant: -   Origin: Controlled cross -   Parentage: Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Raspberry’ was the     seed parent and Helichrysum bracteatum ‘Harvest Nectarine’ was the     pollen parent. -   Form: Upright, compact biennial shrub. A typical plant with mature     flowers that is ready for sale is approximately 33 cm high — with     flower heads reaching to 45 cm high — and has a diameter of 45 cm     when grown in a 15.2 cm pot with appropriate soil amendments. -   Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit. The plant branches easily.     The plant is easily forced to bloom. -   Stems: Stems are sericeous giving a glaucous appearance; stems are     pubescent below the flower with fine cottony hairs that cover the     stem and have a combed, smooth appearance. Stem width just below the     flower is 4 mm. Stem width at base of plant is 15 mm. Stems at base     of plant are woody — R.H.S. 199 C (gray-brown group). The first     portions of the stem that are not woody are 7 mm wide and are R.H.S.     139 D (green group). -   Foliage: Abundant. Shape of leaf. — Linear; narrowly acute; margins     are repand. Size. — Leaves are as large as 12 cm long and 2 cm wide.     Texture. — Main vein dominates on the underside of the leaf and is     sunken on the leaf surface. Pubescence. — Leaf surfaces are     puberlent. Color. — Mature leaves have an upper side that is R.H.S.     137 A (green group), and an under side that is R.H.S. 137 C (green     group). Petiole. — Nonesistent, semi-amplexicaul attachment of     leaves. -   Disease resistance: Resistant to the root disease Pythium. -   Buds: -   Form: Conical and compact, with imbricate involucral bracts. Size. —     when fully developed and just beginning to open, buds are 11 mm in     diameter and 18 mm in height. Texture. — smooth and glossy (waxy).     Rate of opening. — Slowly , and in layers, closing at night; fully     open in 2-3 weeks. Involucral bracts. — The bud stage is darkest of     the flower. The tips of the tightly imbricate involucral bracts are     R.H.S. 53 A (red group). As the flower bud begins to open, we see     upper side of larger bracts (16 mm long and 8 mm wide — 4^(th) of     5^(th) whorl of bracts) tips still R.H.S. 53 A (red group), striated     with R.H.S. 53 A (red group) in veins remainder is R.H.S. 7 B     (yellow group). Aspect of involucral bracts. — Thin, dry membranous. -   Inflorescence: -   Form: Flower head is discoid and solitary; usually 1 or 2 buds at     the next leaf axis below. Size of Flower Head. — Diameter of mature     flower head is 65 mm, with the disk floret portion being 25 mm.     Shape. — Circular; involucral bracts are numerous and imbricate.     Appearance. — Showy. -   Involucral bracts: Form. — Involucral bracts are imbricate in many     rows. Involucral bracts are scarious and membranous, but are     brightly colored. The involucral bracts are deltoid, enlarged and     petal-like. Color. — Flowers that are mostly open show the upper     sides of large but relatively narrow bracts (17 mm long by 5 mm wide     — 8^(th) or 9^(th) whorl of bracts) that have an overall color of     R.H.S. 23 A (yellow-orange group). Flower that are fully opened     display upper sides of short and very narrow and overall small     bracts (14 mm to 4 mm long by 2 mm wide — innermost whorls) that can     be as bright as R.H.S. 17 A (yellow-orange group) or as dark as     R.H.S. 25 A (orange group). The R.H.S. 25 A (orange group) color in     the center of the bracts is the dominant color of the flower head.     The tips of the outer involucral bracts on the underside of the     mature flower retain the color the bracts possessed when the flower     head began opening. -   Disc florets: Form. — Florets are small, bixecual and tubular. The     corolla of the florets is usually 5-lobed. Corolla is usually 11 mm     long and glaucous (waxy). The mature florets are R.H.S. 21 A     (yellow-orange group). As the florets age past maturity the corolla     turns R.H.S. 165 A (greyed-orange group). Androecium. — There are     usually 5 stamens borne on the corolla tube. The stamens, including     the anthers, are usually united into a tube around the style and     become highly reflexed from the point of separation. The stamens     protrude from the corolla. Gynoecium. — One pistil per disc floret.     The ovary is inferior. The style is often branched. The style     protrudes from the corolla. Pistil is R.H.S. 15 A (yellow-orange     group). -   Persistence: 7 weeks. -   Achenes: Flower produce nearly cylindrical or 5 — angled achenes     that are approximately 3 mm in length and 1 mm in width. The achenes     have a ppapus of bristles. The bristles can be either simple or     plumose at their apex. The achenese are dry and hard The achenes     rarely germinate. 

1. A new and distinct Helichrysum plant named ‘Harvest Fire’ substantially as herein shown and described. 